Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: WZ JUNK on February 28, 2018, 06:23:29 PM
-
I try to check the camera on the salt flats daily. http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg I am amazed at the beauty of the salt flats and the mountains in the distance. The photo changes almost every time that I check the site. Although the salt and the mountains are the same, the colors and the sky are almost always different. This year the salt appears to have been dry most of the fall and winter. I am curious as to how this compares to winters of the past.
I have speculated as to the exact location of the camera. It would appear to be just outside the dike area but I could be way off. I know that when there were vehicles on the salt last year, I thought I could make out the pit area off to the right, but I would be interested if someone knew exactly where it is located.
John
-
Intrepid must be out scraping salt cause the camera is taking pictures of a chain link fence?
-
I sent them a message on their facebook page. They said it was knocked askew during the last storm. They are sending a crew to fix it.
-
They have more videos and photos, too;
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/ (http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/)
-
Thanks for asking them to reset the camera and for posting the video links. I like to check the conditions on the flats daily. I expected more water on the salt during the winter.
John
-
I thought that was the new drag for the salt! :? :-o :-D
-
it is up again
-
The video is a real hoot. Seeing the camera guys adjusting the camera in the video is amazing. I think this whole idea is just incredible.
I would like to thank the people who came up with this idea and the ones who keep it maintained.
John
-
Bump to the top so you can check out current salt conditions. Yes I know it's way early but look!
-
Just looked that sure looks nice so far. :cheers:
-
It's May.
-
Yeah, it's May -- and I don't see so much mud that the wildflowers are blooming - so that's good, right?
-
Used the camera link - not impressed - grainy blackness, no salt, no mountains; what a bust. No, wait, its 08:45 here in the UK - that means it is 'O dark Hundred hours' in Utah and the time stamp is on the bottom of the frame too - 'plonker'. :oops:
-
Live cam pics show the standing water appears gone, since last week.
No guarantees, but promising...............J
-
I see the flats are back to being a lake, but as others have pointed out it is still May.
-
Nice photo this am with mountains and sky reflected in the lake...…... :-(
-
I think we some dipstick marks on that piece of rebar :)
(I know, it's still May...)
-
I think we some dipstick marks on that piece of rebar :)
(I know, it's still May...)
I agree, It is difficult to gauge the depth of the water. The wind direction has an effect on the standing water. Since I check this camera almost daily, I have noted that sometimes the water evaporates quickly.
The last time that I could see the mountains to the northeast, they still had snow on them. The snow should be gone by now. It will be interesting to see the condition of this years salt compared to last year. Last year was a dry winter on the salt and this year was wet and last year was very good salt conditions. I believe it will dry out in time to be used for racing.
-
Checking the camera today and still seeing water on the salt. Is there any way to know the depth? There also is a build up of salt on the bottom of the post, so does that mean the water is getting shallower?
-
It's interesting that there has been relatively little rain at the airport but there have been thunderstorms in the area that have not put water on the airport and we all know, of course, that thunderstorms that hit downtown/airport do not automatically translate to water on the tract. Bit farther north is different story. The stake is, as I understand, marked in inches. There is a bit of build up at the base and shallow there but out and away who knows. Few weeks back before the camera stopped working for a while you could see bare salt over by the mountains. Not today. So the water has moved or increased. And still not hot (ok to 85 for couple hours- mostly 60-75 range).
-
This morning the camera showed the flats covered in water. Just now I checked and it is nearly all gone and almost complete covered in salt. A beautiful site to see. Shows you how fast things can change. I would not be surprised to see water there again though.
-
I am just fascinated with this camera. I may be the only one. Yesterday it was nearly dry and today it is a lake again. I have heard that the wind can move the water in and out depending on the direction and strength of the wind. This might be what happened yesterday and last night. It could be that we are seeing the effect of warmer temperatures and the snow melt from the higher altitudes is working its way to the salt. I have noticed that the snow on the mountains, in the upper right of the photo, is now nearly gone. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
-
I am fascinated by the camera, too and check it almost daily. I think the couple of times we have seen it appear dry recently has been lighting conditions that let us see thru the standing water that had no ripples and it appeared dry. One day that I saw that condition some one had posted a photo from the end of the road which showed lots of watercoverage as far as you see from that point of view. On a good note, the snow on the furthest mountain has decreased considerably in the last two weeks.
-
I know it's still early but the salt looks to be drying out nicely. Now I just have to finish up the bike.
-
Every time I look at the camera and it's off line I can't help to think Intrepid is doing something they shouldn't be doing?
-
It went off line on the weekend,, I believe its the University of Utahs responsibility, and I guess their contractor hasent got it sorted yet
-
I am just wondering about the comments of the flats being under water and then a few hours later dry again. could this be influence of the moon in any way. Tidal almost? If the sitting water ebbed with the moonphase it could run for miles in low tide and high tide phases.
Just thought I'd throw that out there. Today has been long and slow.
I'll get my coat...
-
I recall someone mentioning in Australia they run with the tides, that is run when it is low tide (maybe)
-
Is the salt Cam ever going back on line? My withdrawal symptoms are almost unbearable! :-(
-
I watched it for about a week before I realized I was seeing the same thing ! lololol I'm, awaiting the fix also !
-
Is the salt Cam ever going back on line? My withdrawal symptoms are almost unbearable! :-(
As soon as Utah gets the $5 million to pay the consultants to make sure it's really down! :dhorse: :dhorse:
-
I bet when it comes back on line the salt will be gone! Yep every last grain of salt gone!
-
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
If this works for you it might provide some relief!!
I don't know which "yesterday" it is.
-
It says February 6th and 7th at the bottom.
Wayno
-
I miss the photos from the camera. Does anyone know why it is not working? I wonder who we could contact? Maybe I should do a little poking around the internet and see if I can find who is responsible and what is going on with the camera.
-
Thanks,,,, I go to it every day ,,, and,,, nothing,,,, keep us informed please ?
-
Does anyone know why it is not working? I wonder who we could contact?
Try calling Ellen Wilkinson of the USFRA at 801-485-2662. She usually has the answers for things in Utah.
Jeff sequestered in Boise
-
Im pretty sure that the University of Utah are responsible for the camera
-
I was at Lands end last Saturday afternoon. No standing water on the salt. Just wet. Lots of idiots driving on it. Mostly, they were driving towards the mountains. I didn't leave the pavement so I have no knowledge of what the courses look like right now.
-
I contacted the University and I got this very nice reply. So it looks like the camera will be up and going as soon as life gets back to normal/abnormal.
Unfortunately, we are not able to do field work at this time due to travel restrictions for all university employees. As soon as we are able to begin field operations again, we will get out to the Salt Flats site and give the camera a kick start.
Regards
John
John Horel
Professor, Chair
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah
jo
-
Thanks for checking for us WZ .................
It will be such a relief to be able to SEE
the current salt conditions.
Be funny (read:ironic) if the SALT was in good shape,
but the PEOPLE (read: BLM) were not able to attend ..................
-
I got a couple photos from a Wendover contact couple days ago. Clear and dry.
-
That knocked-over cone would be a 2-second penalty in an autocross!
Jeff in Boise
-
That would be what? .01 mph depending on class? :cheers:
-
The camera is up and running again. :clap
-
I noticed early this morning....
-
:-D :clap :clap :clap
-
See today that the camera is operating once again.
-
See today that the camera is operating once again.
ok being an "fng" around here, what camera?
-
BH, the one that is now in the 4 previous pages... cromag
-
Aw, come on Stainless, give the guy a break..... :Friday
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
-
Aw, come on Stainless, give the guy a break..... :Friday
A break? Not Stainless, he wouldn't even build his mother the bookcase she wanted :naughty
-
For those that thought I was picking on BH... I was actually picking on Creekrat for starting a new thread so I merged the two SFC into one to make it easier for all to know which thread had consolidated info.... aktion086 aktion086
If you don't read every day you may not have noticed
:cheers: y'all
-
Bumping this back to the top so it can be found with ease.
-
Camera post needs a ribbon so we can see any wind
Surface looks slightly damp , pretty good this far out for dragging and a great track by race day
-
How far out is it?
Dragging slop doesn't help it.
When you're leaving tracks just driving over it, how good does it stand up trying to get traction?
-
Camera post needs a ribbon so we can see any wind
Surface looks slightly damp , pretty good this far out for dragging and a great track by race day
in a strong breeze the witches hat sits offcenter :-D
-
It is fun to see vehicles in the photo shots today. I think I see someone dragging the course this morning. Things are happening.
-
I think it's someone trolling for the ghost of Boyd Coddington.
-
F**KUP once, and it follows you to your grave :evil:
-
Once?
-
F**KUP once, and it follows you to your grave :evil:
So if you F##KUP once you have nothing to loose by F##KING UP all the time.
Words to live by. 8-)
-
Speaking of seeing stuff on the salt:
As i drove past the rest area near exit 4 I sae three or four cars and a Harley way the heck out there - a few hundred yards or more away from the pavement. No doubt the most in many years of me looking out there. And from that info you can form your own opinions on how wet it is.
Caveat Emptor rules!!!
-
I think it's someone trolling for the ghost of Boyd Coddington.
Oddly enough...The lic. Plate on my '32 3 window is "Boyd Who"
-
I posted my recent report on the salt - sitting in my truck parked in plain near view of the salt flats camera. It was about 12.10 local time. Anybody see me?
-
Yeah, I saw you. Sometime, I would like you to pinpoint that exact location on a map so that I can get an idea of just exactly where the camera is located. There is a movie with you in it at
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/archive/20200804/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_day_new.mov
It is fun to watch all the activity in the background today.
-
Great to see all the activity , esp the pole move
-
With SpeedWeek underway, are we seeing spectator vehicles and pop ups, with the pits not in frame to the right ??
-
what is causing the haze hanging over Bonneville, is it smoke, dust ???
-
It's smoke, Ron. California is burning and we're getting the benefit up here in Utah. :roll:
Wayno
-
I see some activity this morning on the salt in the area of where the pits were located during Speedweek. I wonder what is going on?
-
latest camera shots look really dry is this good or bad?
https://home.chpc.utah.edu/~u0553130/Camera_Display/bflat.html
-
I have looked at this shot almost daily for a long time. I have seen years when there was a lot of water during the winter and others when it was dry like it is now. I have not been able to determine if there is a relationship between flooding and the condition of the salt bed. I know that when warmer weather comes, that snow that you see on the mountain off in the background, will melt, and that water will make it to the salt flats.
Maybe someone else has some knowledge or observations.
-
I have looked at this shot almost daily for a long time. I have seen years when there was a lot of water during the winter and others when it was dry like it is now. I have not been able to determine if there is a relationship between flooding and the condition of the salt bed. I know that when warmer weather comes, that snow that you see on the mountain off in the background, will melt, and that water will make it to the salt flats.
Maybe someone else has some knowledge or observations.
Living in Utah, I can say that my experience over the years has been that when we have really dry winters, like this year, we usually have a very wet spring, or really bad thunderstorms in the summer that are hit or miss.
We had the longest stretch without rain in the history of Utah this fall, but we are seeing winter storms start up finally.
-
"Latest camera shots look really dry - is this good or bad?"
Yes
-
Some water, recent car tracks and what looks like bare dirt showing through...........
-
I think you are seeing the reflection of the mountains behind. At least when I play the current day movie that what I see.
-
Bump to top of page.
-
I checked the camera earlier today and there was a wrecker in the view heading east or from left to right. He was in one frame and then gone. I would like to hear the story that goes with that photo.
-
I noticed the truck also. It is some sort of flatbed truck carrying some sort of Caterpillar tractor or dozer (yellow). Could be Intrepid mining for more salt.
Don
-
I believe that's Salt Flats Towing on a rescue.
Sid.
-
That just means there are still some soft spots! :evil:
-
I saw video of a bush plane out there the other day & even that was carving a trail!
Sid.
-
I guess it was mirages that I've personally seen over the last 50 years. They looked like rail cars loaded with some white stuff.
-
is that a little man wearing a Sombrero sitting on top of the witches hat :laugh: :laugh:
-
This is from Saturday, June 12th...
https://i.imgur.com/T7UkhMj.jpg
-
This is from Saturday, June 12th...
https://i.imgur.com/T7UkhMj.jpg
A bit damp and sticky.
-
A racer friend rode onto the salt this morning with his trail bike. Says it is exceptionally hard and flat, with no ridges. I asked if he could see the old courses, he said no. So maybe no more rain before race season will be OK.
-
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
-
I'm not sure of the exact bearing, but I'm pretty sure the camera looks NW or so...
-
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
North, it's looking directly at the cutting in the Silver Island Mountains, that's Tetzlaff peak on the left.
Sid.
-
I have not thought this through, but I wonder. At 1:00 PM daylight savings time, would the shadow of the pole point north? Maybe a cold beverage would help me find the answer.
-
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
North West, with Pilot Peak in the background 8-)
-
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
North West, with Pilot Peak in the background 8-)
Pilot Peak is in Nevada & I don't think it can be seen from there due to the Silver Island Mts. The peak in the background is Graham Peak & the camera is pointing directly at the cutting from over by the dyke so it's pointing a red pussy hair to the east of due north.
Sid.
-
Actually, stay 'tee is correct. That is Pilot Peak (in Nevada) off in the distance. The saddle slightly to the right of the pylon is called Silver Island Pass. That's Tetzlaff Peak on the left. Graham Peak is out of view to the right. Moving to the northeast, the peaks (all out of view) to the right of the pass are: Lamus, Jenkins, Campbell, then Graham, and finally Cobb. Moving southwest, to the left of the pass are Tetzlaff, Rishel, and Volcano Peaks. I drove all the way around them on the Silver Island Loop Road last year. I even took the spur off to Floating Island (no, it's NOT "Floating Mountain" - get a good map!).
Jeff in Boise -
-
Ok, thanks. North-ish.
-
Aliens have appeared in the hazy, smoky fog! :-o
-
Apparently, they were around for awhile.
And, yes - it's SMOKEY.
-
It looks like some vehicles have appeared on the salt. A good sign for sure.
-
Looks like camera is down again.
-
Once the mother ship is repaired the aliens will clean the lens and be on their way! :-P
Or they may be just wondering where all the salt went! :evil:
-
If it's white up there right now it's snow. :cheers:
Wayno
-
looks like the camera is back up :roll: :naughty aktion086 :cheers:
-
I was thinking it's covered in ice...
-
The guys at the University are good at taking care of the camera but they do not get out that way regularly. I bet they will have it fixed soon.
-
I noticed the camera was back taking photos on the salt on Wednesday, the 26th of January.
-
Aliens are still there! I see the shadow going for the cone head! :-P
-
The salt looks pretty dry.
Zero snow in the mountains...
-
I just looked at the camera and there are a couple of vehicles out there on the salt. Definitely drier than I thought it would be for February.
-
They've been camping out for about a week!
-
They are in the general area of the race course. It is hard to tell the distance. Probably a crew working on a tv commercial. I hope they do not mess up the race course area.
-
Looks like the snow in the mountains is almost gone.
-
I noticed the picture was blurry the other day. Now the cone looks farther away. I don't think it was moved, and the camera probably wasn't moved - so did they change the lense?
-
Salt is looking pretty good and it looks like all of the snow is gone from the mountains. Hopefully it will be good salt again this year.
-
Due to a well failure at Intrepid they hadn't pumped any of their crap on to the racing area for two years, that's why the salt had a chance to show improvement. As soon as they are up & running again you'll see it go back to that dirty cream color, the binder will disappear again & your tent pegs will fall out.
Sid.
-
My race bud was out there a couple days ago. Said the salt looked and felt as good as last year and tasted great on his hard boiled egg.
-
You can see a few trailers for the Test-N-Tune. Stay safe and go fast!
-
If you can catch them at the right time, you can watch the trucks dragging the course. 8-)
-
I can see lots of trailers in the pits! Very cool, go fast and stay safe!
-
Wow, the pits go from one side to the other in the camera view! Looks like lots of racers!
-
Dan. . . it's sorta not that many racers, sorta. A couple of days ago JoAnn Carlson (SCTA secretary) said they had just over 300 pre-entries (15 June cutoff). 300 or so is a fine turnout. Not the 450 of a couple of times recently, but plenty. Especially with the dearth of good salt that makes it dang near impossible to have enough race tracks to handle the volume of racers.
But - the pits are about 2 miles long this year. In the recent past they've been more like 1 1/2 miles - maybe a tad less. What you're seeing as lots of racers is really quite a few racers but spread out more than you thought.
-
Wow, Lake Bonneville is out. Hope it dries out soon and the racing surface isn't too soft.
-
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
-
Well, with the amount of standing water at the camera it is not looking good for racing until late this week.
-
Based on the 24 hour video, it looks like some wind last night and the water has "moved" some.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_day.mp4
-
That is cool. Amazing what goes on over time, that we dont notice.
Is there hope for WOS ?
-
Where does the water go when the wind moves it? The time lapse video shows the wind blowing to the north and about 6" of water disappeared during the night. Does that mean it is all piled up on the north side of the BSF and will roll back into the south side eventually?
Don
-
Where does the water go when the wind moves it? The time lapse video shows the wind blowing to the north and about 6" of water disappeared during the night. Does that mean it is all piled up on the north side of the BSF and will roll back into the south side eventually?
Don
Yes
-
Raining again Saturday evening, the 13th.
-
And Sunday morning...
-
The day video shows the change.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_day.mp4
-
Well, with the amount of standing water at the camera it is not looking good for racing until late this week.
WOW,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,That's a cool picture there.
-
I'm not going to bother posting pics from the camera - it's easy enough. I'll point out that the water is deeper today than yesterday. No salt ridges are showing above the surface this morning. The are lots of reasons for that to happen, but for now - take it as a demonstration of how fast the water level changes at any one point.
I draw no conclusions but rather just observe with a sense of intellectual curiosity hoping to better understand what's going on.
-
I wonder if closing the dike is going to change how fast the salt dries out for us now. I guess we will see how long this takes to dry out.
-
just read a gem of English -
. . . with a sense of intellectual curiosity . . .
STAN?
-
Looks like it is slush on the salt. I wonder if it will be able to harden up enough to prep the courses in time for WOS.
-
I'll resurrect this thread to comment on the camera and the view of the salt.
I've started looking at it a half-dozen times a day - maybe more. I saw tire tracks the other day, for instance, and they show quite a bit of information about the condition of the salt. I'll assume that I'm not the only one, so I'm posting to tell the rest of you that haven't got in the habit - give it a try.
It sure isn't very dry yet. Check out how much salt fell from the vehicle (tire tracks lead me to believe that a vehicle was involved) while it was stopped.
-
I know that Gary Mc Gavin, Dennis Sullivan, and Russ Eyres had boots on the ground Wednesday 09/14/22.
They were out there to check the conditions. While the camera shows white salt they say it's still damp. The
water level is right at the surface, But amazingly enough it seems that the prolonged water saturation has
given the slatbergs time to dissolve and redistribute them selves.
Official report coming soon.
Eric
-
I've been watching enough to be able to tell the surface is still damp. The darker patches are wet spots - and they change as the day and sun proceed to dry them and get damp again overnight. Nope - ain't fry.
The dissolving salt floaters being gone is good news.
-
I thought I was the only one who checked the camera often. There was a neat low cloud bank yesterday at the base of the mountains in the distance. I watch the snow in the winter and the melt off in the spring. The year the camera was down was a rough one for me. :-D
-
I have to admit that I have a look almost daily, although not with the level of observation of some of you. I'm more of a look and a quick day dream and back to work viewer, I guess I need to up my game!
-
I thought I was the only one who checked the camera often. There was a neat low cloud bank yesterday at the base of the mountains in the distance. I watch the snow in the winter and the melt off in the spring. The year the camera was down was a rough one for me. :-D
You are not alone. I had separation anxiety when the camera was down. Looked at the camera several times a day leading up to 2018 SW. Yes of course I still look often. It's ok to look right?
-
Optical echo?
-
Surprise! Did it rain on the salt Thursday evening, or did the water come down out of the mountains?
-
I just saw the picture - and wow, it did some serious raining overnight. Last night's forecast for Wendover showed the likelihood of rain - by golly, I guess it rained!
Take a look every 4-6 hours for a day or two and watch how the water moves and goes away, and how those tire tracks from yesterday survived the water. It'll show a little bit about how the salt heals.
-
So, The white line or area that you can see in the picture must be the dike that separates the rest area on the interstate from the race area of the salt flats. The dike makes kinda of an arc from near the truck stop, out towards lands end and then back to the interstate.
I have never figured out exactly where the camera is located but it must be within this area contained by the dike.
-
Nope - you've got it backwards, sorta. The camera is looking west, away from the highway and the Salduro Dike/Mound/Loop and towards the mountains. The camera location is a mile or so east of where the courses were this year, and out from the 3 1/2. It's past the point where the Salduro makes the turn back towards the highway. It can't be seen from the tourist stop ( I think ).
-
I know you have been to the camera. I saw photos to prove it. Just to clarify. You are saying the camera is looking nearly west, parallel with the interstate and looking off to the north of Wendover. Sometimes I watch the shadow on the stake with the cone. Directions are very confusing out there on the salt. The interstate runs nearly east and west and that makes it a little easier.
-
So, The white line or area that you can see in the picture must be the dike that separates the rest area on the interstate from the race area of the salt flats. The dike makes kinda of an arc from near the truck stop, out towards lands end and then back to the interstate.
I have never figured out exactly where the camera is located but it must be within this area contained by the dike.
It?s here. You can zoom in and see it on Google maps.
-
I thought someone said the camera points north in a post last year....
-
Is the camera system acting up for you? For the last day or two sometimes it doesn't refresh for me, sometimes it does.
Whassup?
-
Jon,
Here is the current view, and it works fine for me. Date and time at bottom of picture.
Tom G.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
-
Now it works, but when I first posted it didn't refresh. I always look at the time stamp and it was stuck at 6.30 last night, for instance, and when I look at it and see the shadow on the wrong side of the cone for the time of day - - I know something ain't kosher. It's happened a couple of different times on a couple of different days, on two computers - - that's what led to my query. Thanks.
Take this as notice that it might try to fool you, girls and boys.
-
Drove up to the camera on Sunday. The salt is really looking good right now. The short Course could be run on with almost no grooming. The long course will need some work. But is is drying out nicely. There are still a lot of tables and EZ up frames scattered all over. The tables are junk now as 3 months in salt brine has already rusted the legs off of most of them. Didn't find anyones race tires though. Hopefully next year we will have an even better track to race on.
-
Someone should pick up that debris before it becomes next years' FOD.
-
Don't worry, the great stewards of the salt, BLM, will take care of it.........
-
Did the BLM leave the crap out there on the salt or was it the racers?
-
gowing it was left behind by the racers. The tables floated away before the racers were allowed on the salt to load up and go home. The easy up frames are more of a question for me as to why they didn't collapse them and throw them in the dumpster before they left. Then again, The SCTA left a large coil of timing wire by one of the cones on the short course. It's junk now too.
-
Maybe the ez-up stuff was left by spectators reluctant to drive through a foot of salt water... Folks around us were pretty diligent about getting their stuff found and hauled from the pits... but I understand the SCTA had a large lost and found pile....
It was and sounds like it may still be a mess :cheers:
-
It's about 7.30 Wendover time on Thursday the 3rd. The time stamp on the camera is showing that it's 6.30 last night, even after a few refreshes.
-
Must be a stuck jazzer? :-P
Or the thing-a-ma-bob fell out of the what-ya-call-it? :?
Probably missed a grant payment! :evil:
-
Jon,
Perhaps it runs out of power in the evening/night, and starts again in the morning?
-
I suppose that might be the case - but it hasn't shown this behavior in the past.
-
Questions? Contact the MesoWest group at atmos-mesowest@lists.utah.edu
They would have the answer or could try and trouble shoot the problem.
Tom G.
-
Hey, maybe the battery is weak or dead... only works for a while after the sun goes down...
Oh, and it doesn't matter, with any luck it will be flooded for the next several months.
-
No, it usually works through the night. Yes, it's black picture, but the time stamps change as they're supposed to change.
-
This morning...
-
And tonight...
-
Reflections, again! :?
-
I've embraced the idea that the batteries for the system are failing, based on observing that it works fine starting an hour or two after sunrise, and soon after sunset the picture transmitted doesn't change 'til the solar cells get going the next day.
Previously the display would be black all night but the time stamp would update just like always.
Ergo, the batteries can no longer store enough kwH for 24-hour operation. Or the solar array is failing - from our point of view it's the same.
-
It was stormy on Monday, the 28th - it was blurry, and later - obviously ice covered. Tuesday, the 29th - back to flat water in the morning, ripples in the afternoon.
I asked a pal to photoshop the pole / cone combo out of a cloudy shot I liked.
You like?
-
How it looked in August :-(
-
Aircap,
That is a cool picture!!!
Rex
-
Someone needs to wipe off the camera lens :-D. It seems that it has been a wet off season this year.
-
With all the rain/snow west, you sure it's not under water....... :cheers:
-
This one was weird today....
-
Hi all, Happy New Year- there is a video post this morning on FB from a LSR guy who was at the end of the access road, and it looks like the entire Flats are under water even ,according to him, the bend in the road. Perhaps this will aid the healing?? All we can do is keep positive waves!! Pray for a great year ! Go fast-stay safe :cheers: :cheers:
-
No mountains? The BLM is chunking them up to make road gravel. Just another way they're making money off federal land.
-
Yep all that water will make it easier to strip mine the flats...
-
Free snow cones today! :cheers:
-
Take a look, folks, There's a new way for us to see the salt - from Land's End..
https://geology.utah.gov/community-science-photo-station-installed-at-bonneville-salt-flats/?fbclid=IwAR2jpxPsYptnimjsaEi_aAzbDnhbHlULhj2ir3tJGkpnJTM1iNovUotsE1g
-
So we are at the mercy of the camera and the photographer...
-
Until somebody steals it or runs it down or both! :-D
Sid.
-
The mountain really is floating! :-o
-
Can you say ZERO wind! :?
-
At this point I probably check the weather station camera 10 times per day. I am no longer surprised at what I see, there is nothing out there to obscure what's going on.
-
Surf's up! :cheers:
-
What's this? Ripples of salt?
12.20 PM EST 15 Feb '23
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Screenshot_2023-02-15_at_12.15.48_PM.png)
-
More like water. :cheers:
Wayno
-
Look at all that snow on the mountains!
-
Snowed again: https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
-
How about a Winter meet with jet boats launching at end of the road , they could easily do 2 way runs .. Turn around and run back !! Maybe 2 courses , 1 out 1 back . IT'S RAINY AND COLD IN TUCSON , I'M spending day inside doing stuff for a rainy day !!
-
I've had Bob the Web Elf put a link to the salt flats camera on the home page of the site so it's easy to find if you don't have it bookmarked.
-
The old guy says "huh?"
-
Stan don't worry it's for guys that can't use their computer to find stuff.... all they have to do is go to the Landracing.com home page and click on the salt flats camera link under important links...
and they get https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
You already know how to view it so no worries.... :roll:
Yea I know... you were wondering what the home page was lol8 :cheers:
-
Keep in mind, every time you click that link you will get the latest and last photo taken by the camera. If you want to share it in an email or post the link to a specific photo (like when it snowed) you must first save the photo and rename it before posting it....
I made this mistake, and I'd point out something..... and a couple hours later, or the next day - it would be a different photo. It's extra work, but whatcha gonna do?
I might save 10 photos throughout one day, and have a record of the weather that day that I can check against my link to the nations weather radar. If I see it's raining on the salt - I check the weather map, and can tell pretty closely when the weather will clear. It's fun.
-
Well instead of a lake we now have the Bonneville mud flats with puddles.........
And Yeah, I just included the link rather than a photo when it snowed.
-
Having personally witnessed the huge amount of salt bergs last August I expect areas will be nothing but mud. Probably in the areas of the access road and pits.
-
Celebrating what will be my 51st year since I first wandered that way, I have learned to not predict what is unpredictable. I get encouraged when they start dragging it, although that is not a prediction.
-
The mud flats lasted less than 48 hours. I happened to catch a morning view with the water coming down from the mountains advancing in a line across the area. Of course, this evening - it's wave city again.
-
Although there may be additional water (snow melt) off the mountains, there had been no rain. The lake seemed to dry rapidly and now recover. I suspect wind blowing water off and then back onto the track area. Still mud and still wet.
-
Looks like there may be some wind out there today!
(http://)
-
Agree- windy and definitely less water on the surface than this morning early. Seeing some exposed spots again. May come back with change in direction. But still looking brown, not white??? :x
-
Yeah, it's looking like a mud flat, not a salt flat.
Don
-
We've known that the Bonneville Mud Flats has been coming for a while now but hopefully this look is just the brine dirt showing through the thin layer of wet salt! :?
Sid.
-
So... who is taking bets on when it dries out?
-
I wouldn't touch that with a pair of long nose pliers!
Sid.
-
Man... it's been weird lately. White?
-
And this... Did the water all blow over to I-80?
-
You realize of course, salt and snow are pretty much the same color. :cheers:
Wayno
-
Ya, but if that's snow that means there ain't no salt!
-
Maybe it's going to turn into a big El Mirage!
-
Yesterday it was wild for hours. I checked multiple times, and most of it looked like this.
-
With the $5mil Government grant Intrepid are blowing the salt across the freeway now.
Sid.
-
Just checked, and things are finally starting to look white!
Jeff in Boise
-
Blowing it north or south?
(They also have an Intrepid Salt Company.)
-
Looking like the salt is forming up pretty good. Fingers crossed for a good year.
-
I know it is only May 5th but damn it looks good out there!
-
Would let me save attachment? try agian...
-
I noticed a car was out there in the dark tonight..... Probably stuck. It's not dried out yet.
-
Just taken at 7 am Pacific time. May 6th, 2023
Tom G.
-
Looks like that car is still out there.
Jeff in Boise
-
. . . sure is tan.
-
. . . sure is tan.
Sort of off white :|
-
The snow is white but the BLM hasn't worked out how to make a buck off that, yet!
Sid.
-
With sodium-ion batteries being the new tech.... I'll bet there won't be any salt on or in the "Great Salt Lake" area in the near future.
-
I'll take that bet. Batteries are NOT the future, however much many folks want them to be.
-
Looks like a lot of action on the salt the last couple days. Video shows 2 or three campers on the salt right out from the camera. Stupid :x people
-
Yup. I even tuned in late one night to find 2 pairs of headlights far out on the salt.
-
With any luck they were stuck and required a tow.
-
Driving back to Boise from Denver yesterday, I saw a few idiots had driven out onto the salt from the rest area. Went to Land's End, where everything looked good - dry and hard!
Jeff back home in Boise
-
Current photo shows some ding bat has done donuts around the stake with cone on it near the camera. Not dug up suggesting relatively hard surface.
-
Jack,
Are we going to see you in August?? Need to hear the wine of a big 2 stroke!
Rex
-
Jack,
Are we going to see you in August?? Need to hear the wine of a big 2 stroke!
Rex
Well, "if the creek don't rise". :cheers:
I just need to clean and install the pipes and drain the antifreeze from over the winter, so basically ready to load. Have a major trip with family and grand kids to get through in a couple of weeks. So still some time to find the "oh crap" look at that! and fix it. LOL
I sure hope so Rex.
-
Spotted a couple of suspicious characters on the salt cam... almost looks like Bo and Timmy Burkdoll... :roll:
Heard the salt was wet and a little rough but there looked to be 8 miles... :friday
Forgot no standing water that they saw anywhere :cheers:
-
Suspicious activity today! :cheers:
-
Suspicious yes, but it is a good sign, J
-
NOT suspicious, it's called a pre trip to find and drag course for speedweek. They have drag before the course gets to dry and hard.
-
It's cloudy on the salt as I type this, but the forecast sure is favorable. Lookit those 90s!!
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.7365&lon=-114.0404
-
Looks like it rained....
-
Better puddles than lakes!
Rex
-
Doppler Radar show more going through there right now. Pocket storms are the style of weather we've been having this year, yesterday we were hammered by a heavy hail storm that lasted about 20 minutes.
Sid.
-
Neglected to post this... evening of July 7th. Quite a number of vehicles on the salt.
-
Most likely Joe Public terrorists teaching their kids how to do doughnuts! :x I've spent a lot of time on the salt out of racing time & you'd be amazed at how much of that idiot $hit goes on.
Sid.
-
The cone is gone! It was there first thing this morning but now - VANDALS!!!??
-
Vandals? Are you accusing the students and/or alumni of the University of Idaho?
Jeff in Boise
-
:cheers:Aliens ?????????? And what happened to the Frosty the Snowman that was on top of the stake ?????? Inquiering minds need to know !
-
Well.
6.25 AM the cone was still there....the next framed picture at 6.30 AM shows the stick without the cone......
who is out at time... muutt
-
Bigfoot
-
The cone is gone! It was there first thing this morning but now - VANDALS!!!??
VISIGOTHS!!!??
-
Stealth? :evil:
-
One of my former teachers in case I return to class?
-
Great photo Slim
-
SSS
-
The cone is still missing! :naughty
-
It's still pretty dark at 0600 MDT, but I don't like what I can see - a reflection of the mountains on the salt, indicating that there's a lot of standing water.
Jeff in Boise
-
At 0630MDT, my fears are confirmed. Looks like everything is under water.
Jeff in Boise
-
that looks WET
-
At 0810MDT, it looks like salt is already starting to poke up through the water. We may still have a shot.
Jeff in Boise
-
Even IF it does dry out enough to race on... that's gotta affect the speeds.
Monsoon season :x
-
Maybe Intrepid could use some of the $5mil Gov grant they got to "help save the salt" & turn up the pumps to suck the water level down. :evil: Nah.. I bet they already spent that for lunch money. aktion086
Actually the real situation will likely be since we had a big winter the water table will already be high so soak in will be minimum. Intrepid could open the gate & flow it off but they're not there to help us. They'll use it to their best advantage by either letting it soak in or holding it for optimum saturation, the last thing they want is evaporation.
Now that the crust is so depleted the water soaks in rather than evaporating like it used to when there was a solid crust but I expect it's already saturated. Intrepid is pulling more salt through their pumps now as apposed to flowing the top off, this is why we see the canals flowing more than we used to.
These weather patterns have evolved over the last few years to what have now & it appears to be the new normal. I'm 100+ miles down wind from the salt & we had seven months of harsh winter here with a big snow pack but it just rolled into raining once it warmed up-ish. It's a whole 60 deg at midday right now.
Sid.
-
Even IF it does dry out enough to race on... that's gotta affect the speeds.
Monsoon season :x
Yes, reminding me of 2019. We got there Friday and sat around until Wednesday before we got 1 run in. Almost got stuck trying to get the car to the starting line. It was like driving through 2" of slushy snow. Aborted the run around 100 mph. We just put the car on the trailer and came home. I guess it continued to dry out and some decent runs were made towards the end of the week, but I couldn't stay that long. Same this time I can only be there until Wednesday if I even go. Another storm will be hitting the area soon, I guess we will see what it does.
-
The weather station, does it record water table depth?
Sam
#6062
-
Yes, reminding me of 2019. We got there Friday and sat around until Wednesday before we got 1 run in. Almost got stuck trying to get the car to the starting line. It was like driving through 2" of slushy snow. Aborted the run around 100 mph. We just put the car on the trailer and came home. I guess it continued to dry out and some decent runs were made towards the end of the week, but I couldn't stay that long. Same this time I can only be there until Wednesday if I even go. Another storm will be hitting the area soon, I guess we will see what it does.
[/quote]
With the latest update (#6), announcing that the Drivers Meeting & racing will de postponed until Sunday or Monday, it sounds even more lake 2019! I didn't get to run until Wednesday then, too! I'm experienced in winter driving, so I didn't get stuck in the staging lanes, either.
Jeff in Boise
-
no change on the water level around the camera....but, hey, this mornig someone gave the stick a new hat...
-
Glad to see the cone is back! I wonder if it's one I knocked over in the SRR-SCCA AutoCross this past weekend.
Jeff - in Wendover, not Boise!
-
Yes, reminding me of 2019. We got there Friday and sat around until Wednesday before we got 1 run in. Almost got stuck trying to get the car to the starting line. It was like driving through 2" of slushy snow. Aborted the run around 100 mph. We just put the car on the trailer and came home. I guess it continued to dry out and some decent runs were made towards the end of the week, but I couldn't stay that long. Same this time I can only be there until Wednesday if I even go. Another storm will be hitting the area soon, I guess we will see what it does.
With the latest update (#6), announcing that the Drivers Meeting & racing will de postponed until Sunday or Monday, it sounds even more lake 2019! I didn't get to run until Wednesday then, too! I'm experienced in winter driving, so I didn't get stuck in the staging lanes, either.
Jeff in Boise
[/quote]
Definitely looking like 2019. Salt is going to be really soft/slushy.
-
I see some vehicles out there, are these leftovers from SW, or scouts for future events? I'm just curious about conditions, etc.
-
I see the Church Of Speed is sponsoring the camera now! :cheers:
-
Ah, crap. Take a look at the salt now - Sunday morning, 20 August.
-
Yuppers.
-
can't see the salt for the rain............
-
It's a lake now! More rain coming on Monday from the hurricane. Not looking good for the BMST event! :-(
-
I was on the fence about running at WF due to my health but I think the weather has decided it for me. :x
-
Neil,
WF is still possible...
the BMST, so the lake looks Sunday late evenning, is a no go....
WoS....needs lots of heat and wind....
so be ready for WF....and have fun
-
Thanks, Thomas, but it looks hopeless this year.
-
since you be worry.... :clap
Thanks, Thomas, but it looks hopeless this year.
-
Well, I would expect the USFRA crew will be making the determination within the next week, and I have looked at several weather apps and none are showing the kind of heat it will take to dry the salt -still keeping the faith and slugging away JUST in case..... :-(
-
So are conditions such that BV and Elmo are finished for the year???
-
I wouldn't throw in the towel yet. If the rain stays away and they hold off until around 9/5 to drag i bet we will be good. The salt this morning looks pretty good from the camera for just raining. Wind is a good thing as you know.
-
Looks like we lost the camera :?
-
It's back up. Lots of water.
-
After watching superfast Matt's video, I think they should call it.
Man that salt got everywhere.
-
Video??
-
Well here's the video not sure why he's called superfast! Shows you what to expect unless there's a miracle by the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_x9cBEt4
-
Super Fast someday :-D I think we are looking at 2 completely different scenarios, at SW it rained a couple days before the meet, this last rain is a few weeks before the next meet with warm temps and no rain in forecast(we all know that can change) I'm sure the USFRA will make the right call. We wont be going if its only a short course. Boots on the ground will have the best info. Hope to hear some reports over the next several days.
-
Well I think the fat lady has sung and the party is over
-
Yep! When this storm is over I'm packing it all away for the winter.
Sid.
-
Well here's the video not sure why he's called superfast! Shows you what to expect unless there's a miracle by the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_x9cBEt4
That is a good video. I think "Superfast" is a tongue-in-cheek nickname. :-D
-
Well here's the video not sure why he's called superfast! Shows you what to expect unless there's a miracle by the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_x9cBEt4
That is a good video. I think "Superfast" is a tongue-in-cheek nickname. :-D
Half fast was already taken! :-P
-
Love it, sounds like our program :cheers:
-
After drying out, it's wet again (rain last night?). Also - the cone is now earthbound.
-
That cone looks like a float gauge.
-
Someone scraped off a lot of salt near the cone today...
-
Any one know why the salt cam isn't working?
-
Any one know why the salt cam isn't working?
The web server appears to be down for the entire site, not just a problem with the camera:
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/
You can even ping the server, so that part still works.
Looks like some scheduled maintenance, so hopefully it will be up again soon.
https://chpc.utah.edu/news/latest_news/oct2023/20231018.php (https://chpc.utah.edu/news/latest_news/oct2023/20231018.php)
Disclaimer: I'm not sure if the computers described in the CHPC maintenance downtime page have anything to do with the salt flat pictures. The warning is on the same university computing domain, but we don't know if this is related.
-
Thanks for the update. I thought something was wrong with my computer.
-
It's back up!!!!!!!
-
From Sunday evening, January 28th. A stunning glassy surface reflects the colors of the sky and the distant mountain range.
-
I saved this one the other day. The sunrise made the mountain glow.
-
I like this link, 10-12 second video of yesterday every day
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
-
Some days when I look at the photo it just takes your breath away. Today is one of those.
-
The view from the camera has been looking promising. Fingers crossed that it stays dry this year.
-
What's happening here?
Driving off into the sunset?
-
Must be a "sepia" (sp?) print. The "floor" should be brilliant white.
See print to the left.
-
When I looked yestereday it looked like lots of vehicles running around on the salt. Lots after dark as well. I did see the sunset watchers.... but the salt was white during the morning of the video. Of course it is different every day
:cheers:
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
-
Can't imagine trying to find my way around in the dark out on the salt.
-
Running wide open on the salt at night with no lights on is a "Thing" the idiots do. A few years ago two died when they hit the dyke in a Mustang or some other death machine at high speed. During the day parents let their young kids loose in their cars while they video them doing stupid $hit. People camp out overnight, have camp fires & crap right on the salt. A few years ago when I was checking the salt depth I ran across some campers out there & made them pick up their crap. I was an angry Kiwi with a broken F-bomb filter like they'd never seen before! :evil:
Sid.